Cooks, Restaurant salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Cooks, Restaurant in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median of $35,950 a year ($17.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,390 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,480 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 4% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $34,640. There are 7.9 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,360, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,880 | $13.40 |
| 25th percentile | $30,210 | $14.53 |
| Median | $35,950 | $17.28 |
| 75th percentile | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,480 | $21.39 |
| Average (mean) | $35,360 | $17.00 |
Half of cooks, restaurant earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,995.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,497.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,382.69 |
| Weekly | $691.35 |
| Hourly | $17.28 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,950 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38,930 | 41,690 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,610 | 9,180 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,030 | 10,810 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $35,970 | 2,300 |
| Kokomo, IN | $35,300 | 370 |
| Bloomington, IN | $34,910 | 930 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $34,870 | 930 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $34,840 | 880 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $34,650 | 1,300 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $34,490 | 2,030 |
| Evansville, IN | $34,290 | 1,330 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $33,770 | 640 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $31,200 | 490 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $31,040 | 570 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $30,120 | 370 |
| Muncie, IN | $30,050 | 460 |
| Owensboro, KY | $30,010 | 440 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $29,860 | 490 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $29,830 | 600 |
| Columbus, IN | $29,740 | 360 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,550 | 1,090 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Fast Food | $26,990 | $12.98 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $29,630 | $14.24 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,690 | $13.79 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $30,180 | $14.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,800 | $18.65 |
| Bartender | $29,120 | $14.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $27,590 | $13.26 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,780 | $15.28 |
| Dishwasher | $29,770 | $14.31 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $28,030 | $13.48 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $46,310 | $22.27 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $35,950 a year, or $17.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn at least $44,480 a year. The top 25% earn $37,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,880 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $30,210 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
About 5,390 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.